The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
HER TRUE LOVER.

HEN lhUE kLUBEH.
Ny sister Kate was beauty; dark,
with splendid eyes, and luxuriant black
hair, and q color ON herlips and cheeks
like that of q fresh red rose. "Bonny
Kate. " we called her always, but she
hated the name, because Dave Lynn
gave it to her, and Dave was her pet
aversion. An awkward, homely, un-
calmly, fellow, and, no doubt, provok-
ing enough.
He was clerk at a grocery store in
our neighborhood; nobody knew who
he was or whence he came; while we
were the children of parents well to do
in the world, and had each the pros
pect of fair inheritance.
Certainly it was not pleasant for
''Bonny Kate"-the acknowledged
belle and beauty of our quiet country
town-to'be appropriated, as it,wereL
whether she would or notify this
presumptuous nobody.
Pleasant or not, however, he made
no secret of his love for her; and some
of the ways in which he showed it were
really touching. As, for instance,
once when she was sick, he kept watch
and ward outside the house the whole
night long lest anything should be
wanted.
She was furiously angry when she
heard of it, and called him fool for
his pains. So, also, when he arose at
daybreak, on cold spring morning,
to search the woods for Violets for her,
and presented them humbly, with one
of his quotations, Sweets to the
sweet" she tore the pretty blossoms to
pieces before his face and flung them
out of the window. s.
By-and-by,. Oswald Gray, wealthy
gentleman from the metropolis, fell in
love with her and asked her to be his
wife. |E..*
He was q handsome, elegant, cul-
tured man, the very opposite of poor
David. 1t was a desirable match for
her, too, belle and beauty as she was,
and we were all glad when she accept
ed him.
.And nov you VIII be rid 81 Dave, -
said / msurily. ..He will realize what
q fool he has been as soon as he hears
the news"
To my surprise, her bright face
clouded. ~
Poor Dayer' said she more gently
than her wont. "DO you know l feel
sorry for him. should never have
felt so bitterly towards him if he had
not leased me so; and, after all, be-
lieve he loves me truly. Poor, poor
DaveI"
But her pity for him did not prevent
her swapping at him just as spitefully
as ever next day when he came to bid
her goodbye. He had received let
ter from an uncle, from whom he had
not heard for years, he told us, and
who now offered to provide for him.
His face was flushed, and his blue eyes
were bright with hope. There was a
look of energy about his hOmely feat
ures that made him for the moment al
most handsome.
Kate had received him quite gra-
ciously at first, with her new mood OF
gentleness still upon her. Whether il
was his hopeful air that provoked her,
or whether, like most cOquettes, she
really hated to see even an unyalued
victim escape from her tolls, cannot
tell, but suddenly shspouted and grew
angry.
''You seem glad to CO." she said
demurely. For once in our lives we
agree. Indeed, ] wonder which is
suited best-you to go, or to know Of
your going!" -. -
But he was used to her ungracious
speeches.
YES" he answered eagerly; 81 an
glad, becausco of the chance it gives me-
| shall get on, make my fortune some
day, and come back and marry you
Oh, you won't treat ME so scornfully,
perhaps, when I'm Il gentleman.
Kate's black eyes flashed with
whitening scorn, and her cheeks grew
red with anger.
"You a gentlemanr' she cried con-
temptuOusly. That would be mira
Gle indeed! When that happens you
may even be my husband, for one is
not more impossible than the other. "
"Both are possible, and will come
true, as surely as we both livel' he
cried resolutely. II said to myself
when the letter came, I'll put my fort
une to the test!' and l got some roses
the sweetest and best could find, and
sent them to you this morning.
wrote on a card, Your lover sends
these for your bosom, and l said to
myself. IF see her wear only one Of
them, will take it as a sign that
shall win herr and see, he pointed tc
her heaving angry bosom, lido you moi
wear them nowp"
'tNor' she cried passiOnately, and
tore the crimson cluster from hel
breast. II never would wear a flower
of yours! thought they came from
Oswald Gray" she added to me, a.
she fell, fairly sobbing with rage. upor
my bosom.
Whatever you thought you wore
themln cried Dave, triumphantly, Ia
/ shall wear you some day, my rose o.
the worldl Until then, may God guard
you for me. Goodbye"
And he had caught her hand and
kissed it, and was gone before she
could speak or prevent him.
Run after himr' she gasped. ''Tel
him about Oswald Gray" Then, when
/ would have obeyed her: "No, no
come back-it is not worth our while
he is gone, and i shall see no more o
him. Oh" she added presently, 81 an
glad that he has gone--I have beer
afraid, sometimes, that he really woul'
marry me in spite of myself, and tina
/ should lose all power to resist him.
Meantime the preparations for he
wedding went on merrily, the expect
ant bridegroom having returned Z
town. 1t wanted but short time 0
the happy day, and we were looking